TIP S
Tips for first time attendees
1. Don’t be afraid to separate from colleagues and friends! If you want to attend a session that your
colleagues and friends aren’t interested in attending, go anyway!
2. If there are two sessions happening at the same time that you really want to attend, don’t be afraid to
divide and conquer! Decide with friends, colleagues, or new friends who will attend specific sessions and then
chat later about what you learned over delicious food and drinks.
3. Students are strongly encouraged to mingle with students from other programs. Friendships and future
collaborations often come from meeting at AATE.
4. Don’t be afraid to take some time off to explore the city. While in a perfect world you could attend every
session and event possible, if you want a night to go out for dinner and paint the town red, then go for it!
5. When you get contact information or a business card from someone, take a moment later that day to
jot down on the back of the business card how you met them, where you met them, or any interesting
conversations that you had with that person.
6. If you have them, tuck a few of your own business cards into the back of your nametag so that they are
easily accessible to hand out.
7. Attend the network breakfasts! These are a great way to find out about the various networks of AATE and
to see the faces involved.
8. Visit all of the exhibitor tables and enter the exhibitor raffle. Not only will you have the opportunity to win
some great stuff, you will also be able to talk to experts and garner valuable resources!
9. Remember to take off your conference nametag when you leave the hotel so that you don’t walk around
the city broadcasting your name and personal information to everyone you meet on the street.
10. Attend the Awards Ceremony. Even if you don’t know any of the nominees.
11. Try to map out your day in the morning or the night before. There are so many wonderful sessions held
simultaneously and trying to decide which session to attend during the short breaks can be frustrating.
12. Take advantage of opportunities to meet new people. If you are usually shy, push yourself to meet new
people; the AATE National Conference is a friendly and open environment.
INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED?
Attend the Leadership Interest Meeting Saturday,
August 2 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in Denver 3rd-Mt.
Columbia or reach out to a committee chair!
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